References, Materials and Procedures for the

Illinois Professional Engineering Examinations

Each candidate is responsible for knowing and adhering to these rules regulating the administration of the
Professional Engineering Examinations. Read all of the following information carefully. Failure to follow
these rules can result in immediate dismissal and disqualification from these examinations.
Two examinations are required for licensure as a Professional Engineer in Illinois:
1. Fundamentals of Engineering Examination
2. Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination
Both exams are administered in April and October of each year. Specific dates for the next scheduled
examinations are available at the NCEES website at www.ncees.org. Continental Testing Services, Inc. (CTS)
is designated as the authorized exam administration service for the Department. Illinois does NOT utilize the
NCEES Exam Administration to administer the exams. You may register to take the Fundamentals examination
if you are a senior student in an ABET (EAC) approved BS degree engineering program. You may register to
take the Principles and Practice and/or Fundamentals examination(s) if you are a graduate of an ABET (EAC)
approved BS degree engineering program or if you are an Illinois Engineer Intern. All other candidates must
be approved by the Department prior to registering for the engineering examination(s).
All candidates taking an engineering examination must register with the NCEES at www.ncees.org, as
well as Continental Testing Services Inc. www.continentaltesting.net in order to reserve a seat for the exam.
The deadline to register is posted on the CTS website and is prior to the NCEES deadline. If you register
with only NCEES and not CTS, you will not be allowed to sit for the exam.

The examination specifications (content) are available from the NCEES. You may obtain a
copy from the NCEES Web site at www.ncees.org. If you do not have access to the Internet,
you may contact the NCEES toll free at 1-800-250-3196. The specifications are only provided
through the NCEES.
These are the requirements of Illinois for the Testing Centers: Where the NCEES requirements
and Illinois requirements differ, the Illinois requirements will take precedence for those taking
the exams at the Illinois Testing Centers. The Standard NCEES candidate information packet
is the last two pages of this reference sheet.

EXAMINATION SECURITY
1.

2.

Study Guide

By registering for this examination, each candidate acknowledges and accepts the
responsibility to maintain the security of these examinations by neither copying nor divulging
any questions, answers or solutions to any part of these tests, including any drawings or
notes made with reference to these examinations. Each examinee will sign a statement
acknowledging compliance.
Any breach of examination security will be grounds for discipline by the Illinois Department
of Professional Regulation.
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Photo Identification Required. Each candidate must present a photo ID and a valid exam authorization
notice to be admitted into any of the examinations. The only acceptable photographic identification is a Drivers
License, Secretary of State ID card, or a current passport. If the name on the photo ID does not match the
name on the exam, authorization notice, proof of legal name change must be presented before the candidate
can be admitted to an examination.
Permission to Leave the Room. Permission must be obtained from examination security personnel to
leave the room for any reason. Talking or any contact with other examinees during the examination is not
permitted and may be grounds for immediate removal and disqualification.
Visitors. Friends and relatives are not permitted to be in the testing area at any time. Anyone who accompanies
you to the test site and is not registered to take these tests must meet you outside the testing facility after the
test has been completed.
Materials Prohibited During Examinations

Any devices or materials that might compromise the security of the examination ARE
PROHIBITED. All such devices or materials found during an examination may be checked by
examination security personnel and confiscated pending any investigation or action regarding
possible threats to the security of the test.
All communicating devices such as pagers, beepers, cellular telephones or other electronic
instruments that may disturb or distract candidates during the examination, including electronic
watches with set alarms, ARE PROHIBITED.
Smoking and consumption of food and drink ARE PROHIBITED in the examination room.
Devices having a QWERTY keypad arrangement similar to a typewriter or keyboard are not
permitted. Devices not permitted include, but are not limited to, palmtop, laptop, hand-held and
desktop computers, calculators not approved by NCEES, databanks, data collectors, and organizers.
Personal pencils or other writing devices. ONLY MECHANICAL PENCILS SUPPLIED BY
THE NCEES ARE PERMITTED IN THE EXAMINATION ROOM.
CALCULATORS. Only those calculators specified by NCEES will be allowed. For the latest
list of allowable calculators, you may obtain a copy from the NCEES Web site at www.ncees.org.

REFERENCE MATERIAL: Please review the NCEES Candidate Agreement (last two pages of this
document) for permissible reference materials in the examination room.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS: If you move before you receive your examination results, you must submit your
change of address in writing to Continental Testing Services, Inc., 547 South La Grange Road, La Grange, IL
60525.

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EXAMINATION RESULTS: The examination results should be available within approximately three months
from the date of the examination. The results will be mailed to you as soon as they are available. DO NOT
CALL THE DEPARTMENT OR CONTINENTAL TESTING SERVICES, INC. IN THIS
REGARD.
NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering (FE) Examination
Other Disciplines Exam Specifications
The FE exam contains 180 multiple-choice questions and is split into a morning session (120 questions) and
an afternoon session (60 questions).
The morning is the same for everyone. For the afternoon session, you will be asked to select the module that
best corresponds to your undergraduate degree. When registering with the NCEES, you will have to choose
your PM module. On exam day, you will receive only the PM module you selected when registering.
The FE is a closed-book exam. You will be provided a FE Supplied-Reference Handbook at your seat on
exam day.
Both sessions must be taken to receive a score. The score will be reported as Pass or Fail.
You may obtain a copy of the examination specifications (examination content) from the NCEES
Web site at www.ncees.org or toll-free at 1-800-250-3196.

The NCEES Fundamentals of Engineering Reference Handbook will be provided at the examination. If
you bring a copy with you, it will not be permitted in the examination.
The examination booklet, answer sheet, and supplied-reference handbook shall be turned in before
leaving the examination room.
In preparation for the examination, you may obtain copies of the reference, The Fundamentals of
Engineering Reference Handbook, and the most current examination specifications from the
National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEEs) at www.ncees.org or toll free at
1-800-250-3196.

PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF ENGINEERING EXAMINATION

The Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination is administered as a Discipline Examination. You
must indicate the discipline that you plan to be examined in at the time you register for the examination with
Continental Testing Services, Inc., and the appropriate examination booklet will be ordered for your use.
The specifications indicate the content areas and the format of the examination. The examination may be
No-Choice, all multiple choice questions, or Breadth/Depth format, all multiple-choice questions. In
preparation for the examination, you may obtain the most current examination specifications (examination
content and summary of format) from the NCEES Web site at www.ncees.org.

Each discipline examination uses dimensional units which reflect current practice in that
discipline. Some disciplines will have an increase in the use of metric units due to federal
mandates.
No scratch paper is allowed. Blank pages for scratchwork are provided in each solution
pamphlet. No credit will be given for answers recorded in the test booklets; the answers must be
recorded in the solution pamphlets.
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References for Principles and Practice of Engineering Examination:

Please review the NCEES Candidate Agreement (last two pages of this document) for permissible
reference materials in the examination room.

STUDY MATERIALS AND REFRESHER COURSES

The National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying (NCEES) has developed exam preparation
materials and study guides for the Fundamentals of Engineering Examination and the Principles and Practice of
Engineering Examination. To order a copy of the Fundamentals of Engineering Reference Handbook or study
materials, contact the NCEES at one of the following:
Physical Address
NCEES
280 Seneca Creek Road
Seneca, South Carolina, 29678
Phone: 800-2503196, 864-654-6824

Mailing Address
NCEES
P.O. Box 1686
Clemson, South Carolina 29633
Website: www.ncees.org

For information regarding refresher courses, contact:

Illinois Society of Professional Engineers, Inc. (ISPE) 217/544-7424

Website: www.illinoisengineer.com

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NCEES Examinee Guide

The NCEES Examinee Guide is the official guide to policies and procedures
for all NCEES exams. All examinees are required to read this document
before starting the exam registration process. It is your responsibility to
make sure that you have the current version.
NCEES exams are administered in either a computer-based format or a
pencil-and-paper format. Each method of administration has specific rules.
This guide describes the rules for each exam format. Refer to the
appropriate section for your exam.
Download your free copy of the NCEES Examinee Guide.